Chapter 66

In the court, Emperor Yong was furious, but Qiao Jiaojiao was unaware of it. She only learned from Qiao Diyi that several edicts had been issued from the palace.

The Emperor’s anger was evident in the edicts, which ordered the executions of the Minister of Rites, Xinfu, and the Qingguo Mansion, along with their families!

Qiao Jiaojiao could probably guess the Emperor’s intentions. The Chunwei examination was crucial for selecting talents for the court, and it concerned the foundation of Emperor Yong’s rule. He wouldn’t allow anyone to interfere.

Now, Sheng Qishan and Xin Ruizhi had conspired to trade rankings, allowing mediocrities to enter the government. They colluded with each other, causing trouble right under Emperor Yong’s nose. He wouldn’t tolerate such actions beside his own bed!

This time, Xin Ruizhi and the Qingguo Mansion had truly touched a nerve with Emperor Yong!

By the time Qiao Zhongguo and Qiao Tianjing returned to the Qiao residence, it was already afternoon. Qiao Jiaojiao had managed to stay awake without a nap, fearing she might miss any news.

Qiao Zhongguo and Qiao Tianjing had been hungry for half a day already. Qiao’s wife had the servants prepare a table of food, and the family closed the doors to talk.

“Ah, what’s happening? What about Tan Hanchi? Is he alright?”

“Dad, elder brother, please eat more, you must be starving!”

“Ugh, I hope that brat, the Second Prince, didn’t gain any advantage. When will that little baby start talking?”

Qiao Jiaojiao was sitting in her mother’s arms, babbling, when suddenly Qiao Diyi handed a letter to Qiao Zhongguo.

“Dad, I’ve checked it, it’s the real list.”

Qiao Jiaojiao’s small fist clenched suddenly.

“Wait! The list? Could it be the list I’m thinking of?”

Qiao Zhongguo immediately put down his chopsticks and opened the letter. After reading it, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Hahaha, excellent! Tan’s plan worked like a charm! With this, the Second Prince’s scheming is all for nothing!”

Qiao Jiaojiao’s heart raced as she heard this, almost jumping out of her mother’s arms.

“Is it really the list from the Qingguo Mansion? Did Tan Hanchi snatch it back with his plan?”

“Oh my, surrounded by talented people, why should I worry? I can just relax and be a baby!”

“With this Chunwei case exposed, without the Qingguo Mansion’s leverage and without the help of the Gu family of Qingzhou, his grand plan will be halved!”

At this point, Qiao Diyi asked about Tan Hanchi again, “Dad, what about Tan Hanchi? Was he detained?”

Qiao Tianjing put down his chopsticks, urging his father to eat more. He replied, “Although Xin Ruizhi confessed in court, besides Tan Hanchi, he couldn’t name any other examinee involved in buying and selling rankings.”

“The Emperor was furious and immediately ordered the arrest of the Qingguo Mansion. But the palace attendants found a written confession from him. He had already hanged himself in the ancestral hall at home.”

“The Qingguo Mansion was turned upside down, but they still couldn’t find the list. So the Emperor ordered a reexamination of all the essays from this Chunwei, determined to root out all those involved in buying and selling rankings.”

“As for Tan Hanchi, it seems the Emperor quite appreciates him and decided to keep him at court.”

At today’s morning court, Tan Hanchi behaved with dignity and tact, unveiling the cheating in the Chunwei examination and eliminating the two tumors, Xin Ruizhi and Sheng Qishan, for Emperor Yong.

People say that this examinee from Zhuozhou is bound to rise quickly.

Qiao Jiaojiao had already anticipated this in her heart, and as she heard this, she nodded repeatedly.

【Tan Hanchi was always a talented person, and now he has finally turned the corner.】

【But that pigheaded Emperor… tsk tsk, he wouldn’t be thinking of leaving talents like Tan Hanchi for the Second Prince, would he?】

【However, Tan Hanchi is a man of loyalty and integrity. He has already shown his loyalty to our Qiao family, and I believe he won’t change sides.】

Qiao Tianjing couldn’t help but nod in agreement upon hearing this. He and his little sister were thinking exactly the same thing. Tan’s character was absolutely trustworthy.

At this moment, Qiao Jiaojiao couldn’t help but be curious about Gu Junlin, who was originally supposed to replace Tan Hanchi.

【What about that Gu Junlin from Qingzhou? What happened to him?】

It’s worth noting that the Gu family of Qingzhou is an indispensable force for the business empire established by the female lead, Meng Guxue.

Qiao Diyi immediately echoed Qiao Jiaojiao’s question, pretending to be curious.

In reality, his muddled mind had completely forgotten who Gu Junlin was.

Qiao Tianjing smiled, “It depends on how sincere the Gu family is willing to be. Above… they must have long coveted the wealth of the Gu family.”

Qiao Jiaojiao instantly understood.

【So the Gu family is going to spend money to buy their way out of trouble? After this incident, the Gu family is probably going to decline.】

【Tsk tsk, the Gu family has such a huge business. Even a small share of it is a considerable profit. I’m afraid the Second Prince won’t just sit back and do nothing, right?】

Qiao Tianjing’s eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this.

Doing business?

It seems like the Qiao family lacks such talent.

No hurry, let him think about it carefully…

While Qiao Tianjing was lost in thought, Qiao Diyi suddenly smiled and said, “Elder brother, Sheng Mingcheng and Sheng Xiuran have been released, just as you suggested. They have implicated the Second Prince. Sheng Mingcheng must be furious right now!”

Qiao Tianjing smiled faintly upon hearing this, as if everything was under control.

“Wait a little longer, when Sheng Mingcheng becomes desperate, this Chunwei case can almost be completely resolved.”

Qiao Diyi looked at his elder brother’s smile and rubbed his arms, pretending to have goosebumps, and said with a frown, “Brother, don’t smile so ominously, it’s creepy.”

Qiao Jiaojiao caught onto Qiao Tianjing’s plan from their brief exchange, her eyes shining brightly!

【Elder brother, you’re brilliant! Are you planning to make Sheng Mingcheng bite the Second Prince? That’s such a brilliant idea!!!】

【Ah, I feel like I can just lie back and relax, lying in Mom’s warm embrace, watching Dad, elder brother, and second brother dominate the western regions!】

Qiao Zhongguo quickly ate a few bites of food, then, after wiping his hands clean, he lovingly took Qiao Jiaojiao, holding her up and down, his face full of indulgence.

Without Jiaojiao foreseeing the future, the three men of the Qiao family would be powerful but with nowhere to apply their power.

Even though Qiao Zhongguo was as foolish as they come, he had dodged countless arrows from the northern enemies in the first half of his life, but he had never imagined that one day the knife that stabbed him would come from within the Great Yong Dynasty, from the Emperor to whom he had dedicated half his life in loyalty!

At today’s morning court, the Second Prince took the initiative to suggest going to receive Tan Hanchi in the Jinluan Palace. Qiao Zhongguo didn’t believe that the Emperor hadn’t noticed anything wrong.

If Sheng Mingcheng made a big fuss and exposed the Second Prince’s ambitions, but the Emperor still chose to protect the Second Prince, then he, a loyal servant of the country for decades, would no longer remain blindly loyal.

Loyal to the country before being loyal to the monarch. For a ruler who is not benevolent, for the country, for the people, he must abandon the foolish ruler and assist the virtuous heir!

This time, he would spare no effort to protect his family and also to protect the Great Yong Dynasty that was built on the blood and sweat of countless brave warriors!